Marcus Postdoctoral Fellowship

03 Oct 2023    

Postdoctoral Residencies in Health Service Psychology with a focus in Autism Diagnostics and/or Early Intervention at the Marcus Autism Center, Emory University School of Medicine, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta

Applications are invited for a 12-month Postdoctoral Residency in Health Service Psychology with an emphasis in Autism Diagnostics and/or Early Intervention at the Marcus Autism Center and in partnership with Emory University and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta beginning fall 2024. This wellsupervised fellowship is designed to prepare the postdoctoral-level trainee for a professional career focused on the support of neurodiverse children. The Marcus Autism Center is one of the leading institutions in the country for autism clinical care and research and is housed within Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, which is ranked among the nation's top pediatric hospitals for 2023-24 on the U.S. News and World Report Best Children's Hospitals list. Two to three clinical positions will be available for 2024-25.

Our team is committed to training that is focused on the individual needs and goals of each resident. There is a shared value on social justice among the faculty and residents and a genuine commitment to honoring diversity and inclusiveness. There are multiple opportunities to join existing research endeavors as well as didactic training opportunities across Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta and Emory University School of Medicine. Experiences center on developing clinical expertise in autism diagnostics and/or early intervention as well as mentored supervision of graduate students and doctoral interns. Residents proficient in Spanish can participate in bilingual assessment, supervision, and intervention.

Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics (1-2 positions)

Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics is a multidisciplinary department and research enterprise that emphasizes flexible, empirically supported approaches to clinical assessment in the context of family-centered care. Residents support individuals ranging from infancy to late adolescence with a range of neurodevelopmental disorders, all including a presenting diagnostic question of autism but also differential diagnoses such as intellectual disability, language disorders, anxiety disorders, and ADHD. Most children seen in this clinic are under 5 years. Clinical teams often consist of one psychologist working alongside a resident, with opportunities to consult with psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, speech language pathologists, and social workers. Residents may also join psychologists conducting multidisciplinary evaluations with developmental behavioral pediatricians and neurologists. Training in brief parent coaching, cognitive behavioral therapy, and establishing ADOS-2 research reliability are available as is the option for a split fellowship with the Project ImPACT Early Intervention Clinic.

Project ImPACT Early Intervention Clinic (1 position)

The Project ImPACT Early Intervention Clinic is an interdisciplinary clinic that uses an outpatient parent coaching model to support families of autistic children or those with social communication delays under 4 years. The clinic centers on the evidence-based Project ImPACT curriculum, a naturalistic developmental behavioral intervention, while also supporting families in navigating barriers to care. Presenting concerns include autism but also language disorders, genetic disorders, cerebral palsy, global developmental delays, and factors associated with preterm birth. Residents work alongside licensed psychologists and engage in group supervision with speech language pathologists and licensed counselors. The resident can work toward status as a certified Project ImPACT coach, and they have the option of split fellowship with Clinical Assessment and Diagnostics.

Selection Criteria

Applicants must have completed all requirements for an internship program accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA) or Canadian Psychological Association (CPA). Ideal candidates have experience with neurodevelopmental assessment and/or evidence-based early interventions and a specific interest in developing expertise in one or more of these areas.

Emory University School of Medicine is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer with strong commitment to diversity in all areas. Stipend is commensurate with NIH guidelines, and includes health benefits, paid vacation and sick leave, and time to attend conferences. Learn more here.

Application Process

All applicants must submit their applications online through APPA CAS by Monday, December 4, 2023. Required materials include a current curriculum vitae, three letters of reference, official graduate transcripts, letter of interest, rank form specifying which position(s) the applicant is applying for and rank ordering, and work sample (e.g., redacted report). Please include in your letter of interest experience with specific evidence-based assessment and intervention practices for child populations and autistic children specifically. More information about the larger fellowship experience is available here.

Please contact Drs. Nicole Hendrix (nicole.hendrix@choa.org) or Shana Richardson (shana.richardson@choa.org) for information about the autism diagnostic and early intervention residency opportunities and Dr. Nadine Kaslow (nkaslow@emory.edu) for general Health Service Psychology residency information.